Graphic display assembly for vehicle rotary shifter

ABSTRACT

A graphical display integrated into a rotary knob vehicle shifter assembly including a surface display located outside of the knob which can incorporate any of transistor LCD or organic LED interior components, such as which can be presented into either of segmented or OLED/TFT pixelated image display variants. In either instance, a connector end of an associated harness or ribbon cable extends from the graphical display and, when connected to a remote PCB board integrated into the shifter assembly, is configured to provide variable display options not limited to shifter position and including variable supporting graphics and other designs.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present is a continuation-in-part application which claims thepriority of U.S. Ser. No. 16/574,324 filed Sep. 18, 2019. The '324application claims the priority of U.S. Ser. No. 62/735,498 filed Sep.24, 2018.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A graphical display assembly, such as incorporated into an off-rotaryknob shifter, such including lever, push button, column shiftfunctionality, and which replaces illuminating features incorporatedinto traditional shifter assemblies. The graphical display assembly andassociated applications provide for either of segmented or TFT/OLED(thin film transistor or organic light emitting) display variants foradapting the surface dial illumination associated with any configurationof shifter display to provide for any non-limiting depictions toaccurately and effectively indicate shifter position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art is documented with examples of lighting displays forvehicle shifter assemblies. A common example of these utilize lightemitting elements located on a PCB circuit board integrated into a knownshifter assembly, the PCB communicated via a plurality of light pipesfor tunneling individual light pathways to a dedicated painted andetched surface display which is incorporated into either of a rotatingshifter knob display face or dial, or configured astride a linearlyadjustable shifter lever display surface/dial.

With reference to FIG. 5, a Prior Art example (such as referenced above)is depicted of an existing shifter assembly and includes a housingpartially represented in phantom at 2 for incorporating the variousstructural components associated with the working of the shifterassembly (not shown). A cover 4 is depicted for attaching over an opentop rim of the housing 2, the cover including an annular upwardprojection 6 defining in turn an open upper rim edge 8. A printedcircuit board assembly 10 (PCBA) is provided and supported at the bottomof the well inside of the cylindrical projection 6. The PCBA (printedcircuit board assembly) 10 integrates a configuration of LED styleelements, examples of which are shown at 12, 14, 16, et seq. In othervariations, the PCBA can be relocated to a bottom interior of the mainsupporting housing 2.

A pad 18, similar in shape to the PCBA 10, is depicted and can besupported in stacked fashion upon the PCBA. A light pipe frame 20 isstacked above the pad 18 (such being light permissible via cutouts ourhaving any transparent or translucent properties), the frame 20including individually configured support locations 22, 24, 26, 28 forin turn receiving respective light pipes 30, 32, 34 and 36 such asassociated with any of PRND (park, reverse, neutral and drive) gearshift positions.

A lens 38 is provided in installed fashion over the frame 20 (such asseating flush upon the rim edge 8 of the cylindrical projection 6), theframe in turn seating the light pipes 22-28 for communicating the LEDillumination of the buried PCBA to the surface display represented bythe lens. An interior annular rim edge 40 of the lens 38 is alsoconfigured to seat a Sport button 42 for defining a further shifterdesignation (such as in combination with an additional light pipe incommunication with a suitable PCBA located LED or like illuminatingelement).

Disadvantages of the current design include the requirement ofpainting/repainting or laser etching the desired shifter positiondesignations into the lens other display covering. Other shortcomingsinclude the attendant costs and additional part content, such as inparticular for the light pipes and supporting light pipe frame forcommunicating the illumination from the PCBA mounted LED's to the etchedsurface locations (i.e. PRND).

Other examples derived from the prior art include Paulo, U.S. Pat. No.6,568,345, which teaches a cluster display backlight source set on a PCBand which includes a microcontroller for controlling the lights andsending display information to each cluster. The clusters are mounted ona single support or frame. A rotating mechanism controlled by the drivermoves the selected cluster into the line of sight of the viewingsurface, which is backlighted and evenly spread by a reflector acrossthe cluster. The light source is set on a PCB incorporating amicrocontroller for controlling the lights and sending displayinformation to each cluster.

Specks, US 2004/0207607 teaches an integrated display which isprogrammable. Niazi, US 2018/0143754 further teaches a flattouch-sensitive electronic screen built into the steering wheel andincluding a graphic user interface for controlling vehicle operations.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention discloses an improved graphical display forincorporating into an off knob location of a rotary shifter assembly forproviding identification of a shifter position. The improved display canincorporate any of thin film display (TFT), transistor LCD, or organicLED (OLED) display variants and which allows for any representation notlimited to color, pattern or intensity to be created within a displaysurface geometry. The present invention further allows for the use of aclear display surface (not having any painting or etching associatedwith known shifter position indications PNRD) and which is only limitedby operating software communicated from the associated circuit board andmicrocontroller.

In each variant, a display housing is located remote from the PCBA andcan incorporates a plurality of LED or suitable illuminating components.A harness and end connector extending from the surface display housingconnects to the PCBA, with the surface display in one variant beinggenerically provided without any specific etched or paintedrepresentations and which is modifiable in both color and intensitybased upon the inputs received from the PCBA to achieve a desiredillumination scheme.

An alternate variant provides a segmented display in which the harnessis substituted by a ribbon extending from the PCBA to the (LED or LCDenabled) display surface and by which individual wires within the ribbonilluminate are communicated to selected segments of the display surface.In this manner, and based upon the collection of individual inputscommunicated from the main microcontroller located on the PCBA, adesired illumination scheme is achieved.

Additional features include the programmed surface display (such asassociated with OLED/TFT variants) depicting a current selected gearshown in enlarged depiction in the center of the graphical display. ThePCBA board may further include a main microcontroller with a serialcommunication protocol not limited to any of LIN, SPI, and 12C. Otherfeatures include the PCBA board exhibiting a main microcontroller with aserial communication protocol not limited to any parallel interfaceestablished between the main microcontroller and the graphic display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read incombination with the following detailed description, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, andin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary shifter assembly housingaccording to one non-limiting variant of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the shifter assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of a display subassembly as depicted in FIG. 2and which can include any variation of either of segmented or TFT/OLEDdisplays which are capable of being illuminated via signals originatingfrom the remote located printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) via theassociated connector;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of FIG. 3 and better depicting eitherof alternate versions of a display subassembly utilizing a backlit/LEDwire harness for a TFT/OLED display or, alternatively, a cable ribbonextending from a segmented display in which selected areas of thedisplay are selectively illuminated by instructions issued by the PCBAvia the connector;

FIG. 4A is an exploded view of a segmented display variant with base LCDlayer with ribbon circuits to LCD segments, intermediate silkscreenpolarizer layer with example of polarizer to cover white LCD slots withred silkscreen and top glass layer;

FIG. 4B is a plan view of the LCD layer with LCD segments and ribboncable circuits;

FIG. 4C is a plan view of the silkscreen polarizer layer applied overthe LCD layer;

FIG. 5 is a Prior Art illustration of a shifter assembly by which eachof shifter gear indication and gear position are managed by variouscomponents including color and brightness varying LED elements mounteddirectly to the PCBA, in addition to light pipes extending between thePCBA and an etched or painted surface of the shifter display in order toilluminate the desired shifter position;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the graphical display such as incorporatingthe segmented cable ribbon derived from FIG. 4 and again integrated intoa rotary shifter housing;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a rotary shifter assembly similar to thatshown in FIG. 1 and depicting an alternately configured surfacevariation of an integrated display;

FIG. 8A illustrates a series of related illustrations of segmenteddisplay variations which can include provision of a specific templatesurface for the display subassembly in combination with the ability toilluminate various segments of the display via the PCBA in order toachieve numerous alternative illumination patterns;

FIG. 8B is similar to FIG. 8A and illustrating a variety of TFT/OLEDsurface display options utilizing a generic template surface which, incombination with the remote PCBA and associated wire harness/connector,allows for limitless color and display patterns;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a linear gate style shifter assemblyutilizing the graphical display subassembly;

FIG. 10 is a sectional illustration of a rectangular shaped displaysurface incorporating any of the segmented or TFT/OLED style displaysconsistent with those described throughout FIGS. 1-9;

FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate varying examples of color and pattern schemesapplicable to any shifter surface display;

FIG. 12 is an assembled perspective of an off-rotary knob locatedgraphical display associated with a rotary shifter assembly according toa further non-limiting embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a graphical display subassembly asdepicted in FIG. 13 and which can include any variation of either ofsegmented or TFT/OLED displays which are capable of being illuminatedvia signals originating from the remote located printed circuit boardassembly (PCBA) via the associated connector;

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective of FIG. 14 and better depictingeither of alternate versions of a display subassembly utilizing abacklit/LED wire harness for a TFT/OLED display or, alternatively, acable ribbon with separate wire set for managing the LED's to a separateconnector location on the PCBA, associated with a segmented display inwhich selected areas of the display are selectively illuminated byinstructions issued by the PCBA via the connector;

FIG. 16 is a partially exploded view proceeding from FIG. 15 of thesegmented display with base LCD layer with ribbon circuits to LCDsegments, intermediate silkscreen polarizer layer with polarizer such asto cover white LCD slots with red silkscreen, and top glass layer; and

FIGS. 17-19 present a series of depictions of the segmented displaysurface depicted in FIG. 16 and including individual wire locationsextending from the ribbon connector to the subdivided LCD segmentsassociated with the individual shifter positions PRNDM.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the appended illustrations, the present inventiondiscloses a novel graphical display system which replaces existing PriorArt shifter assembly designs, such as previously referenced in FIG. 5.More specifically, the present invention replaces the use of traditionallight-emitting diodes integrated into the PCBA and requiring lightingpipes or sliding color screens which communicate the illumination ofLED's to a remote surface located screen display (such further beingetched or painted in order to provide a specific shifter positiondesignation PNRD, with a cheaper, easier produced and adaptable displaysubassembly which can be configured from any of a thin film transistor,printed LCD and/or organic LED components (collectively referenced as a“pixelated image”) or, alternatively, a segmented display containedwithin a graphic display assembly which is connected to a PCB via aconnector, and in order to provide more varied options for creatingdifferent illuminating display surfaces which are not limited to thosedepicted by the existing assemblies.

By way of general explanation of the known technical art, a thin-filmtransistor (TFT), such as which can be incorporated into the displays ofFIGS. 3-4, is a special kind of MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductorfield-effect transistor) made by depositing thin films of an activesemiconductor layer as well as the dielectric layer and metalliccontacts over a supporting (but non-conducting) substrate. A commonsubstrate is glass, because the primary application of TFTs is inliquid-crystal displays (LCDs). This differs from the conventional bulkMOSFET transistor, where the semiconductor material typically is thesubstrate, such as a silicon wafer.

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED or Organic LED), also known as anorganic EL (organic electroluminescent) diode, is a light-emitting diode(LED) in which the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film oforganic compound that emits light in response to an electric current.This organic layer is situated between two electrodes; typically, atleast one of these electrodes is transparent. OLEDs are used to createdigital displays in devices such as television screens, computermonitors, portable systems such as smartphones, handheld game consolesand PDAs. A major area of research is the development of white OLEDdevices for use in solid-state lighting applications.

There are two main families of OLED: those based on small molecules andthose employing polymers. Adding mobile ions to an OLED creates alight-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) which has a slightly differentmode of operation. An OLED display can be driven with a passive-matrix(PMOLED) or active-matrix (AMOLED) control scheme. In the PMOLED scheme,each row (and line) in the display is controlled sequentially, one byone, whereas AMOLED control uses a thin-film transistor backplane todirectly access and switch each individual pixel on or off, allowing forhigher resolution and larger display sizes.

An OLED display works without a backlight because it emits visiblelight. Thus, it can display deep black levels and can be thinner andlighter than a liquid crystal display (LCD). In low ambient lightconditions (such as a dark room), an OLED screen can achieve a highercontrast ratio than an LCD, regardless of whether the LCD uses coldcathode fluorescent lamps or an LED backlight.

Finally, and as is generally known, segmented displays, also termed LCDdisplays, static displays or glass-only displays, are constructed of twopieces of ITO (Indium tin oxide) glass with a twisted nematic fluidsandwiched in between. A static display is a segment display with onepin for every one segment. Further reference to examples of LCDsegmented displays will be further had with reference to FIGS. 4A-4C.

A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a flat-panel display or otherelectronically modulated optical device that uses the light-modulatingproperties of liquid crystals. Liquid crystals do not emit lightdirectly, instead using a backlight or reflector to produce images incolor or monochrome. LCDs are available to display arbitrary images (asin a general-purpose computer display) or fixed images with lowinformation content, which can be displayed or hidden, such as presetwords, digits, and seven-segment displays, as in a digital clock. Theyuse the same basic technology, except that arbitrary images are made upof a large number of small pixels, while other displays have largerelements. LCDs can either be normally on (positive) or off (negative),depending on the polarizer arrangement. For example, a characterpositive LCD with a backlight will have black lettering on a backgroundthat is the color of the backlight, and a character negative LCD willhave a black background with the letters being of the same color as thebacklight. Optical filters are added to white on blue LCDs to give themtheir characteristic appearance.

Given the above general explanations of know versions of TFT, OLED(collectively termed pixelated image created) and LCD printed segmenteddisplays utilized in the present invention, such a display subassemblyis generally represented in FIG. 3 (as well as in exploded view in FIG.4) and is in turn incorporated into a reconfigured shifter assemblydepicted in perspective in FIG. 1 generally at 50 and in explodedfashion in FIG. 2. Components of the overall assembly include a mainhousing (shifter core) having a generally rectangular body 52 with a lid54 and bottom cover 56 to configure an interior 52 for supporting thepackage components of the assembly. Among these are included an interiormounted printed circuit board assembly 58 (PCBA) which is typicallylocated proximate the bottom cover 56 and which can include a built inmain microcontroller 59 or other suitable processor component.

A shifter handle subassembly 60 is provided which secures to the lid 54via annular shaped receiving structure 62. A display subassembly,generally represented at 64 and forming a portion of the presentinvention, includes a display surface 66 which is supported within asubset frame or housing 67 which in turn mounts within a mating innersupport surface 68 of the handle subassembly 60 forming a portion of themain shifter body. Without limitation, the housing 67 can be provided asa metal, plastic or other suitable material, with the display surface 66any type of image glass within which is integrated the desired segmentedor TFT/OLED display. As will be further described, variations of thedisplay subassembly can include a wire harness (see pair of wirescollectively represented at 70) and/or a segmented ribbon 72, an endconnector 74 configured at the end of the wires 70 for engaging anoutput location of the PCBA 58 in communication with a mainmicrocontroller component of the PCBA 58.

A closeout display 79 forms a portion of the overall display subassembly68 and encloses the display subassembly display surface 66 andsurrounding frame housing 67. A lens 76 is also provided and covers thedisplay 75 in a manner which transparently reveals and protects thedisplay surface 66.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the display subassembly 64 is provided separatefrom the main PCBA 58 and would likely communicate with the mainmicrocontroller on the main PCBA via such as a serial communicationprotocol (LIN, SPI, 12C, etc.). Alternatively, a parallel interface isenvisioned between the main microcontroller/PCB and the graphic display66 in substitution for the above listed serial communication options. Insuch an application, the main microcontroller/PCB to graphic displayinterface will initially be parallel, with the ribbon style cable 72extending from the graphic display and connecting into an input locationfor the PCB using the appropriate mating connector 74. As furtherunderstood, the ribbon cable will have a wire for each individualLED/LCD segment controlled by the main microcontroller and so thatsubset areas of the display surface 66 are illuminated based upon thecollection of outputs provided from the PCBA 58.

In comparison to the prior art variants of known shifter assemblies(again referencing FIG. 5), the display subassembly of the presentassembly both reduces part content as well as enables the ability toprovide higher quality graphics. This can also include the displayindicating a large character for the current E-shift position in thecenter of the screen (see as designated at 78 for P or park position inFIG. 1), with the non-current characters indicated in smaller font intheir relative positions above the enlarged currently indicated position(see further at 80, 82, 84, 86 and 88 for each of P, R, N, D and Mpositions.

Reiterating the above description, a TFT/OLED (thin film transistor ororganic light emitting diode) display subassembly permits provision of adisplay surface 66 selected from the above referenced options and whichnot required to be pre-etched or painted with the various letterdesignations, thereby allowing varying representations at the displaylocation 78 selected from the options peripherally located at 80-88. Inthis fashion the image sets and colors are controlled through the mainPCBA 58 and the TFT/OLED display can be variably changed to any imagesets contained within the PCBA memory.

With further reference to FIGS. 4A-4C, in a segmented LCD display shownin FIG. 4A at 65, 67, 69, 71, etc., are circuits which connect the FPCribbon cable channels to appropriate segments for activation. The LCDsegments further correspond to the shifter position lettering againreferenced at 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, etc., which are specifically printedin the representation desired associated with a variant 66′ of thedisplay surface (see as compared to at 66 in FIG. 3).

A silkscreen 75 is laminated onto a polarized layer 73 to provide thecolor desired when the LCD for the desired segment is activated and sothat the representation desired is specifically tooled and containedwithin the display subassembly, and further such that any change incolor for various segments would require a silkscreen of that desiredcolor to be located on the polarized layer over the LCD segment(s). Alsodepicted in the exploded view of FIG. 4A is a top glass layer 77, suchas which can be correspondingly integrated into the variant 64 of FIG. 3which can include any suitable TFT/OLED display. Without limitation,each vehicle platform or desired difference in image to display selectedwould be a separately tooled display, but could be packaged in the exactsame shifter only requiring adjustments to the software to control thenewly tooled display.

Referring again to FIG. 3, a perspective of the display subassembly 64depicted in the overall shifter assembly of FIG. 2 can again include anyvariation of either of a segmented display (via ribbon 72) or TFT/OLEDdisplays (via harness 70) which are capable of being illuminated viasignals originating from the remote located printed circuit boardassembly (PCBA 58) via the associated connector which is represented at74 at the end of the harness 70 (with the ribbon style cable 72 usuallybeing connected in a varying fashion to the PCBA 58 in communicationwith its microcontroller and outputs). While the present inventioncontemplates the variants in which aspects of different types ofdisplays can be combined, these are typically provided as alternateoptions.

FIG. 4 again provides an exploded perspective of FIG. 3 and betterdepicting the wire harness 70 for operating the LED's associated withthe segmented display. The cable ribbon 72 us further utilized on thesegmented display in order to control/activate the segments desired forallowing the LED lights 90-96 to pass through. In the alternativevariant of TFT/OLED display, the LED controls are built into the ribboncable communication.

The internal LCD board within the display has the printed circuits andprinted LCD segments contained for the exact image desired. Additionalto the reduction in part content such as associated with a Prior Artversion of shifter assembly depicted in FIG. 5, the display subassembly64 provides the added quality control benefits of establishing bettercolor consistency in the displays, as well as avoiding issues of paintand etch wearing in the display surface, light bleeding and the like. Assuch, the display screen 66 operates without any pre-etching or paintingof the surface in order to provide the desired shifter locationdesignations or additional supporting design indicia.

Also generally represented at 90, 92, 94, and 96 are a collection ofilluminating elements (such as including but not limited to LED styleelements) and which, of note, are incorporated into the displaysubassembly housing 67 rather than being located at the remote PCBA 58which would otherwise require use of the additional light pipes andsupporting structure. The configuration of the LED (or alternate LCD)lighting elements is such that they integrate into the displaysubassembly and communicate with locations of the TFT/OLED or otherdisplay composition in order to respond to the signals issued by thePCBA 58 in order to vary the visual representations. In this manner, thedisplay glass or other surface 66 can present any desired pixelatedimage (TFT) or LCD segmented image (segmented display).

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a modified version of a graphical displaysubassembly, generally at 98, such as incorporating a variation of asegmented cable ribbon 100 (similar to that derived from FIG. 4 with anend situated connector location 102). The display subassembly is shownintegrated into another variation of a rotary shifter housing, generallyat 104 in FIG. 7, and again depicting an alternately configured surfacevariation of an integrated display in which the graphical displaysurface 106 can include an enlarged designation 108 (see as D1) selectedfrom peripheral designations 110-118 for each of PRNDM shifterpositions.

Again, the enlarged selected or peripheral menu position displays areunderstood to be generated by the software inputs from the PCBA andassociated micro-controller such that a TFT/OLED variant display surface106 is otherwise clear (non-etched or painted) and such that anypossible graphical depiction or styling is possible including changingfuture depictions presented on a given display surface simply bychanging the software inputs. This can include the option for thevehicle operator to vary any of color, intensity, script and/or size ofthe shifter positions indicated, as well as the ability to change anysupporting graphics or commercial representations associated with thevehicle type and model.

Again, and with alternate reference to a segmented display surface, theassociated controls allow for activation/deactivation of preprintedsegments on the internal segmented display circuit. Brightness is alsocontrolled through the shifter PCBA in communication with the LEDs.Color is controlled by silkscreens that are predetermined from design todesign, images are predetermined based on the design. If new images aredesired from platform to platform or customer to customer, a differentsegmented display circuit and silkscreen set would be needed, theshifter PCBA software for control and communication would be updated,but the remainder of the shifter could be common (which is not true forlight pipe/traditional style shifter displays).

Proceeding to FIG. 8A, a series of related illustrations are shown ateach of 120, 122, 124, 126, 128 and 130 of segmented display variations(such as utilized with the ribbon cable 72 variant) and which caninclude provision of a specific template surface for the displaysubassembly in combination with the ability to illuminate varioussegments of the display via the PCBA in order to achieve numerousalternative illumination patterns. Additional to the shifter positiondesignations PRNDM which can be indicated at any location of thegraphical display, additional and changing graphics (such as generallyrepresented at 132 in the subset view for display variation 120) canadapt to different shapes and stylings such as corresponding to anybranded vehicle manufacturer (e.g. Ford®, G.M.®, Fiat Chrysler®,Volkswagen®) as well as any subset vehicle make or model (e.g. Mustang®,Ram®, Jeep®) and the like.

FIG. 8B is similar to FIG. 8A and illustrates a variety of TFT/OLEDsurface display options, such as using the wire harness version 70 incombination with a generic template surface 66 which, in combinationwith the remote PCBA 58 and associated wire harness/connector 74, allowsfor presentation of limitless color and display patterns. These arerepresented individually at 134, 136, 138, 140, 142 and 144 and whichcan also envision any gear (shifter position) indication methodology orstrategy not limited to standard PRND depictions, as well as providingunlimited flexibility as to varying color and image representation (suchas again only limited by the software inputs from the PCBA). Thisfunctionality again allows for one display to be use for any number ofimages thereby rendering it not tooling specific and which is otherwiserequired by many prior art pre-etched or painted display surfaces. It isfurther envisioned that the segmented images of FIG. 8A can also beduplicated on any TFT style representation.

FIG. 9 provides an illustration of a linear gate style shifter assembly,generally at 146, utilizing another variation of the graphical displaysubassembly of the present invention, an associated display screen forwhich is further referenced at 148 and likewise depicted in sectionalillustration in FIG. 10. Without limitation, the screen display 148 isnot limited to round displays such as associated with rotary styleshifters and can alternatively be provided as a rectangular shapeddisplay surface (as shown), or any square, octagonal or other shapeincorporating any of the segmented or TFT/OLED style displays consistentwith those described throughout FIGS. 1-9. It is also envisioned thatthe display technology can be applied to other shifter styles notlimited to any of lever shifters, push button shifters, column shiftconfigurations and the like, as well as being applicable to any othertechnological application within a vehicle.

FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate varying examples, at 150, 152, 154 and 156 ofcolor and pattern schemes applicable to any shifter surface display(additional to that depicted at 148). Additional to the variations inscript and supporting graphics, the individual schemes can alsoencompass different color patterns or combinations as made possible bythe selected illuminating (LED or LCD) components configured within thedisplay subassembly housing and which interface directly with thedisplay surface. By comparison LED/LCD screens use a backlight toilluminate their pixels, while OLED's pixels actually produce their ownlight. In this fashion, OLED pixels are often referred to as “emissive”,while LCD's are “transmissive”.

In this fashion, all traditional functionality for lighting andindication is contained within a graphical display assembly andconnected to a separate PCB (not shown) via the extending connector.Additional advantages of the present design include reduced part content(e.g. the ability to remove light pipes such as are required in priorart PC boards with LEDs) and the ability to provide higher qualitygraphics to the display, and as opposed to prior art sliding colorscreens given the ability of the present design to indicate shifterposition without being dependent upon it's physical position.

Outside of the variants illustrated and disclosed herein, anotherpossible methodology in reference to a TFT/OLED display would indicate alarge character for the current E-shift position in the center of thescreen, with the non-current characters being arranged in smaller fontin their relative positions above the large currently indicatedposition. It is also envisioned that the present invention cancontemplate other graphical depictions beyond those shown.

Proceeding to FIG. 12, an assembled perspective is generally shown at200 of an off-rotary knob located graphical display associated with arotary shifter assembly according to a further non-limiting embodiment.Similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 at 50, components of theoverall assembly include a main housing (shifter core) having agenerally rectangular body 202 which can be integrated into such as acenter console of a vehicle interior, the body including each of a topcover 204 and bottom cover 206 to configure an interior for supportingthe package components of the assembly. Among these are included aninterior mounted printed circuit board assembly 208 (PCBA as shown inthe exploded view in FIG. 13) which is typically located proximate thebottom cover 206 and which can include a built in main microcontroller(similar to as previously shown at 59 in FIG. 2) or other suitableprocessor component.

A rotary shifter knob 210 is provided which secures to the top cover 204via an annular shaped receiving structure 212. This includes a supportscrew 214 which seats through an aperture defining interior rim 216 inthe rotary knob 210, the knob in turn being rotatably secured andsupported upon the annular receiving structure 212 of top cover 204 inorder to be rotary actuated between such as individual PRNDM positions.An optional covering cap 218 is provided for securing over the rotaryknob 210, this substituting for the graphical display surface optionpreviously shown at 66 in FIGS. 1-2.

A reconfigured display subassembly, generally represented at 220 isprovided and which is mounted within an interior window (see innerextending rim 222) defined in the cop cover 204 which corresponds to anoff-rotary knob location of the top cover 204, and further so that thedisplay is positioned remote from the PCBA 208 integrated into thebottom interior of the main body 202 proximate the bottom cover 206.Also generally depicted in FIG. 13 is any suitable rotary shifteroperating mechanism, such as including any type of annular detentmechanism 224 and solenoid or direct drive engaging component 226 forcontrolling rotary displacement of the knob 210 (either through manualmanipulation of the knob or in response to a PCBA output resulting froma remote sensor input such as associated with a determined auto returnto park condition).

Also depicted in FIG. 13 are a plurality of fasteners, such as depictedat 230 for securing the lid 204 to the main rectangular shaped body 202(see receiving aperture 232). Additional pluralities of fasteners 234and 236 are depicted in FIG. 13 for mounting both the bottom cover 206and PCBA 208 to the bottom of the main rectangular shaped body 202.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of the graphical display subassembly 220 asdepicted in FIG. 13 and which can include any variation of either of theLCD glass layer separated from the silkscreen, polarizer and top glasscover (see FIG. 16) or the LED backlights mounted beneath the segmentedLCD glass (see FIG. 15) displays which are capable of being illuminatedvia signals originating from the remote located printed circuit boardassembly (PCBA) 208 via the associated connector. As shown, a first mainribbon connector 238 extends from the main housing of the graphicaldisplay subassembly 220 and connects to a first location of the PCBA208. In a TFT/OLED configuration the ribbon can incorporate power linesinto a single connector location. Also depicted are a pair of wires240/242 which extend from the display subassembly 220 to a separatelocation of the PCBA 208 via a second connector 244.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective of FIG. 14 and better depictingeither of alternate versions of a display subassembly which, in oneapplication, utilizes the backlit/LED wire harness (ribbon cable 238only with integrated power lines) for a TFT/OLED display. In analternate segmented display variant, the cable ribbon 238 is provided incombination with a separate wire set 240/242 with common end connector244 for managing a plurality of LED's when engaged to a separateconnector location on the PCBA 208, and in which selected areas of thedisplay are selectively illuminated by instructions issued by the PCBAvia the connector.

A display housing base of the display subassembly is depicted innon-limiting fashion as a shallow rectangular tray shape 246 with anouter covering display panel 248. The tray 246 receives a plurality ofLED components shown at 250, 252, 254 and 256 positioned at locationsunderneath the covering panel 248. In operation, the LED's are activatedand, when the individual segments (as further described in FIG. 16) areactivated, light is allowed to pass through.

The LED's 250-256 are arranged to evenly distribute the light to anunderside of the panel 248 (which can be an LCD panel) incorporated intothe display so that, when the individual LCD segments are activated, thelight can transmit through them in a consistent manner. Also shown areeach of a Park shifter position 258, Reverse shifter position 260,Neutral shifter position 262, Drive shifter position 264 and Modeshifter position 266. Other graphical depictions are referenced for eachof a depiction 268 (this instructing the driver to press the brake pedalin order to shift the vehicle), Park lock depiction 270, Neutral lockdepiction 272, fault lamp depiction 274 and directional arrow depictions276, 278, 280 and 282 (see as best shown in FIGS. 17-19).

FIG. 16 is a partially exploded view proceeding from FIG. 15 of thesegmented display again including the outer LCD display panel 248 (theseincluding ribbon circuits to LCD segments as shown in FIGS. 17-19). Alsodepicted are a plurality of individual strips corresponding tointermediate silkscreen polarizer strips, layers or portions, at 284,286, 288, 290, 292 and 294 each corresponding to selected displaylocations and including such as a polarizer to cover white LCD slotswith red silkscreen, and top glass layer. Also shown at 296 is a clearor transparent cover or lens applied over the LCD panel 248.

Finally, FIGS. 17-19 present a series of depictions of the segmenteddisplay surface depicted in FIG. 16 and including individual wire tracelocations extending from the ribbon connector 238 to the subdivided LCDsegments 258-274 and overlaying silkscreen portions 284-294 associatedwith the individual shifter positions PRNDM. In the initial depiction ofFIG. 17, segmented wire trace 298 progresses through each letter of thePRNDM shifter display, with additional traces 300, 302, 304, 306 and 308corresponding to rectangular shaped identification portions locatedbeneath each of the identified positions PRNDM, respectively.

FIG. 18 further illustrates the silkscreen polarized layers 284-294superimposed over the PRNDM identifying scheme provided upon the LCDpanel 248. FIG. 19 finally illustrates the combined superimposition ofthe LCD panel 248 with embedded and interconnecting segment traces298-308 and the intermediate silkscreen layers 284-294.

Having described our invention, other and additional preferredembodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which itpertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.The detailed description and drawings are further understood to besupportive of the disclosure, the scope of which being defined by theclaims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carryingout the claimed teachings have been described in detail, variousalternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the disclosuredefined in the appended claims.

The foregoing disclosure is further understood as not intended to limitthe present disclosure to the precise forms or particular fields of usedisclosed. As such, it is contemplated that various alternateembodiments and/or modifications to the present disclosure, whetherexplicitly described or implied herein, are included in light of thedisclosure. Having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure,a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may bemade in form and detail without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is limited only by the claimsand is understood according to the claims.

In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described withreference to specific embodiments. However, as one skilled in the artwill appreciate, various embodiments disclosed herein can be modified orotherwise implemented in various other ways without departing from thespirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, this description is tobe considered as illustrative and is for the purpose of teaching thoseskilled in the art the manner of making and using various embodiments ofthe disclosure. It is to be understood that the forms of disclosureherein shown and described are to be taken as representativeembodiments. Equivalent elements, materials, processes or steps may besubstituted for those representatively illustrated and described herein.Moreover, certain features of the disclosure may be utilizedindependently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent toone skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description ofthe disclosure. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”,“incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used to describe andclaim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in anon-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elementsnot explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singularis also to be construed to relate to the plural.

Further, various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in theillustrative and explanatory sense, and should in no way be construed aslimiting of the present disclosure. All joinder references if any, areto be construed broadly. Moreover, such joinder references do notnecessarily infer that two elements are directly connected to eachother.

Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, “first”,“second”, “third”, “primary”, “secondary”, “main” or any other ordinaryand/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, toassist the reader's understanding of the various elements, embodiments,variations and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and may notcreate any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, ofany element, embodiment, variation and/or modification relative to, orover, another element, embodiment, variation and/or modification.

It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted inthe drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more individualseparated or integrated manner, as is useful in accordance with aparticular application. Additionally, any signal hatches in thedrawings/figures should be considered only as exemplary, and notlimiting, unless otherwise specifically specified.

We claim:
 1. A graphical display integrated into a vehicle shifterassembly, comprising: a body integrated into a vehicle passengercompartment; a printed circuit board incorporated within said body; atop cover secured over said body and supporting a rotary shifter knob incommunication with a shifter mechanism contained within said body; awindow configured within said top cover outside of said rotary shifterknob which supports a display integrating one or more illuminatingcomponents for illustrating a shifter position; said illuminatingcomponents further including a plurality of LED's incorporated into atray supporting said display; an LCD panel placed over said LED's sothat said light emitted therefrom is evenly distributed across anunderside of said panel, said LCD panel being divided into a pluralityof individual segments corresponding to selected display locations; aplurality of polarizer portions applied against a surface of said LCDpanel so as to cover any of said LCD segments having a color other thanthat emitted by the LED's; a harness extending from said printed circuitboard and including at least a ribbon cable extending to each of saidLCD segments, said harness also powering said LED's, said printedcircuit board energizing at least one of said polarizer portions topermit passage therethrough of light generated by said LED's toilluminate said selected display location.
 2. The graphical display ofclaim 1, the vehicle passenger compartment further including a centerconsole.
 3. The graphical display of claim 1, further comprising saidharness controlling any of power, intensity, activation or deactivationof said LED's.
 4. The graphical display of claim 1, said display furthercomprising a lens overlaying a display screen.
 5. The graphical displayof claim 1, said printed circuit board further including a mainmicrocontroller with a serial communication protocol not limited to anyof LIN, SPI, and 12C adapted to communicate with said illuminatingcomponents in said display surface.
 6. The graphical display of claim 1,said printed circuit board further including a main microcontroller witha serial communication protocol not limited to a parallel interfacebetween the main microcontroller and said display surface.
 7. Thegraphical display of claim 1, further comprising a parallel interfacefrom a main microcontroller incorporated into said printed circuit boardin communication with said display screen.
 8. The graphical display ofclaim 1, said polarizer portions further comprising any of silkscreenstrips or layers.
 9. The graphical display of claim 1, said ribbon cablefurther comprising individual wires extending to each of said LCDsegments, said harness also including a separate wire set extending fromsaid printed circuit board for powering said LED's.
 10. The graphicaldisplay of claim 9, further comprising a main microcontroller adapted tobeing incorporated into said printed circuit board for controlling saidindividual wires extending to each of said LCD segments.
 11. Thegraphical display of claim 9, further comprising a common end connectorof said separate wire set connecting to said printed circuit board. 12.The graphical display of claim 1, said display locations furthercomprising PRNDM gear positions.
 13. The graphical display of claim 1,further comprising said body having a generally rectangular shape overwhich is affixed said top cover.
 14. The graphical display of claim 12,further comprising said printed circuit board being sandwiched betweensaid rectangular shaped body and an attached bottom cover.